History of the Elko Community Peace Park
The initial inspiration for Elko Peace Park grew out of a poem written by Julie Caldwell and read at the DLC Gallery Poetry and Music night. Caldwell’s thoughts were repeated and discussed among friends at the Gallery.
Elko City Planner Dennis Crooks was instrumental in encouraging the group to develop plans to fit the city’s master plan for green space which includes a trail of parks connecting an additional 50 acres of Eight Mile Creek riparian corridor to the northwest. City Manager Curtis Calder and Chilton engineer, Chris Wooster, offered previously rendered drawings for Mittry Park.
A new focus, a new group of interested citizens and the plan began to emerge as a reality. It was an idea whose time was ripe. The group began attending City Council meetings to present their ideas in February 2006.
In the first phase, the City is responsible for funding the pathways and the irrigation of the plant life. Kent Averson and wife Kim have previous experience with the construction of various parks in New Mexico. Kent is heading up the newly formed Task Committee, joined by Jacques Errecart, Joan Anderson, Steve Kulinski, Dave and Julie Caldwell, Sarah Sweetwater and Jan Goglio.
Meeting regularly at the DLC Gallery, interested citizens worked with architect Jacques Errecart and designer, Joan Anderson to build a scale model of the topography of the park acreage. Geologists, artists, and other interested citizens helped at each stage of the plan.
Dave and Asher Deaver built a model of a Universal Peace Wheel and it was showcased at the Mining Expo, Art in the Park, Motorcycle Jamboree and the Moroaders Car Show to introduce the public to the concept.
Dedicated to peace and cultural understanding, this Peace wheel will be filled with one thousand billion traditional Sanskrit mantras, traditional prayers, and testimonials for world peace from a group of Nobel Peace Laureates along with those of Elko residents. Each time someone turns the wheel the wishes inside are “said” as many times as the wheel rotates.
The diversity of the group led to several universal elements being added to the park. Championed by Steve Kulinski, and assisted by Jerritt Collard, Dave Caldwell and other geologists, plans were developed for rock walls that will tell the geological story of Nevada.
Designed as an educational component, these walls will serve as a destination for anyone interested in learning about Nevada geology, both on a time/historical scale and by reading the stones across the geology of Nevada. In addition to the other elements currently included in the planning stages are the Native Herbal Garden and a Medicine Wheel, under the direction of Chet Stevens and the local Shoshone population.
One aspect of the Kiosk will be the Educational component that will include signage sharing how the local Natives gathered willows for basket-making. The Kiosk will also include interactive information about each of the components along the trail.
Trails will explore the natural habitat and plants of our Great Basin as they meander along Eight Mile Creek and through each of the elements. These trails will provide a nature walk away from our hurried crowded life. The pathways lead to each of the components so they become personal paths for contemplation.
None of the structures are tied to religious ideologies, but are offered as a way of uniting all cultures in peace.